Negative pressure wound therapy: improving the patient experience part 3 of 3

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is considered to be an effective wound treatment, yet research has highlighted a clear need for its improvement, particularly in reducing pain. This is important not only for patient well-being and treatment satisfaction but also for the healing process. In parts 1 and 2, wound care clinicians were invited to share their views on patients' experiences of NPWT. Part 3, presented here, explores the views of patients who have had NPWT, through use of a questionnaire survey and interview (n = 50). Findings show that the majority of patients felt that NPWT had a positive impact on their wound (94%) and that their overall experience was positive (88%). However, respondents identified a number of challenges associated with NPWT, such as reduced mobility, noise issues, and sleep disturbance. Respondents also identified a number of areas for improvement with NPWT, including greater training for nurses, practical alterations to the equipment, and methods of minimising pain and skin damage during NPWT. Taken together with the findings from part one and two, this study highlights several key considerations for future research and clinical practice with NPWT.